Nelson gives craft beer touring a makeover

Benjamin Franklin once said beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

But this story is about Rose Griffin – a woman who was hit by her own spark of genius.

Nelson has had long laid claim to being the craft beer capital of New Zealand, and while this might have Wellingtonians choking on their suds, what can't be disputed is Nelson is home to New Zealand's first beer cycling tour.

It started in 2009 and Ms Griffin's self-guided tour enables beer disciples to visit some of Nelson's dozen or so breweries by bike.

But there is no sloshing on this trip – only sampling – and Story hit the road for not a beer crawl, but a beer cycle for a beer education.